Mean Green Juice Recipe!

Aloha! Some of you have asked for this recipe, so I thought it would be best to dedicate a blog post for the almighty "Mean Green Juice"  that our family loves.

This is where I originally got my recipe, and changed it up to what works for us!

handful spinach
2-3 stalks of kale
2-3 granny smith apples (any apples, really)
small handful parsley
1/2 lemon*
1-2 cucumbers
*A few quick/personal notes:

1. Start by using half a lemon and do a taste test once you juice it all and stir.  The first time Rob and I did this with a whole lemon, it made our mouths water. It was very tart.  (and I typically like sour)

2. Peel(I use a potato peeler) or slice off lemon rind leaving some of the white pith

3. To juice small leaves such as parsley/spinach, roll them up into a ball to compact the leaves. I like to follow it up with some apple or cucumber(more water content) so it doesn't get stuck and pushes through easier. Brilliant right? ;)

4. I like to add green grapes or kiwi (if I have them) to make it sweeter OR if I am low on apples

Since I juice for all 3 of us, I actually have doubled this recipe and it makes about 24-30 oz (depending on how big the cucumbers and apples are)

Currently we are using pears instead of apples, and it definitely isn't as sweet.  I recommend adding 1-2 kiwis to balance out the flavor.

Why I love juicing?

So many reasons! 

1. Of course, it's super healthy for you.  This is a guaranteed way for us to make sure we are meeting our fruit/veggie count.

2. Energy boost, with no crash. No "Red Bull", "Rock Star", or "5 Hour Energy" in our house. Don't even need that afternoon coffee break. All we need is some nourishment and hydration from our vitamin-enriched Mean Green Juice!

3. Great "snack".  We eat 5-6 smaller meals throughout the day and are all about portion control.  This is a great "snack time" replacement.  After Breakfast/Before Lunch (Rob's fave)  or After lunch/Before Dinner (aka when Lex starts to get restless and is dreaming about Reese's Peanut Butter Cups or Cookies'n'Cream ice cream)  It's filling and quite refreshing!

Just to be clear, this is not a "meal replacement" of any sort.  If you want to drink this alongside one of your main meals, that's great too! Trade in that sugary-loaded Diet Coke for a glass of this amazing-ness.

The juicer that we use is the Jack LaLanne Juicer that we bought from Costco a few years back. They still sell it there for $90!  Such a great invesment, and Costco has the best warranty/return policy.  If you plan to juice for a few days, try to use a glass container to keep the juice longer.  It's true that it's best to drink it right after making it, but let's be real. Ain't nobody got time for dat!  I juice enough for 2 days, and juice every other day.  I hit the jackpot and found this awesome glass jug on Amazon and bought 2!  Amazon Prime is my weakness, haha.

Please let me know if you think of any other juicing questions, and let me know what you think if you decide to try it.  Our little Sofie is obsessed and always asks for it after nap time, " Joo Joo Joo" and chugs it. No joke. She is our mini health nut.

Until next time,

Lex

18 months aka 1 Year & a half ;) and some Baby mama Lex stats

Oh nap time, how I love thee! Time to give a MAJORLY overdue Sofia update.  Little love had her 18 month well check yesterday and she had 1 last shot. Boy, was she pissed.  She got over it 5 minutes later and said "Oh wow!"  This is her new thing.  We bought her a Step2 Sand & Water Table from Costco, and she has been obsessed with it and started to say "Oh, wow!"  I wonder what she will say when we actually put sand & water in it and let her play in the backyard, hehe.

 

 

Thanks for setting it up, Daddy!

Here are some stats/new Sofie-isms

Age: 18 months/1 year and a half :)

Stats: 24 lbs 2 oz & 32.68 in tall. Blue eyes & Golden brown hair with some natural highlights

Teeth:12 goin on 14, 2 very stubborn bottom teeth

Favorite Foods: Mean Green Juice, all day! String cheese, mostly all fruit, not big on veggies, but loves the "Baby food pouches" with Kale, Pear, Apple, & Mango

Favorite Word:Uh oh! Also says mama, dada, hello, "oh wow", signs "more" and makes sounds/signs for Elephant, Doggy, Tiger, & Monkey. Says "cheese!" to indicate smiling, haha. Lotsa gibberish too.

Favorite Toys: Non-toys, of course! Sand & Water table, baby stroller and baby, magnets, any type of ball or music maker.

Favorite Activities: Going to the park (yay slide!), playing outside, Little Gym, bath time, running everywhere, reading books, playing at the gym child care, singing to "Frozen" & "Tangled" and ticklefest with daddy.
Other Favorites: Clapping, doing moves to Itsy Bitsy Spider, Wheels on the Bus, and twirling to Hokey Pokey, Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Pixar movies, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse! Playing peek-a-boo with her blanky. Playing with Riley. Climbing on everything. Being spun around and thrown in the air.  Our child is a daredevil!
What's new? Mostly covered it.  In general, talking more and understanding what we communicate to her.  She is starting to be more affectionate, and Rob and I could literally melt.  Hugging our necks and giving "kisses" at bed time. Having a more solid schedule, until those teeth come around! Started her in Little Gym a few months ago and her balance and climbing skills are getting good! She loves to do a "front roll" somersault. 

My, do our babies grow so fast, here is a quick pic for a comparison:

3 days old versus 18 months old, le sigh

Oh and how could I forget?  No more bottle or binky! I really lucked out with having such an independent child.  Just like with nursing, I slowly weaned her off the bottle first.  The binky was a little harder, especially when she was getting 4 teeth at once!  Well, only 2 that actually broke all the way through.  I stood my ground and just kept her as comfortable as possible,with lotsa mama TLC. Over all, it was easier than I anticipated. 

Other than that, we have been a bunch of busy bees. We have a pretty consistent routine of gym time in the a.m., Little Gym/Library/play dates or errands after and 1 solid nap during mid-day, which is when I catch up on work emails and housewife/mama duties. Sofie has had a few sleepovers at Papa/Gamber's and that has been a real treat.  It was hard the first time, and I'm pretty sure I packed everything she owns...haha. #FTMprobs

Here are some pictures of what we have been up to:

Her fave slide @ Roadrunner Park

Going to the park is her FAVE!

Cousin day with Karlie.  Don't mind us, just singing Frozen... :D

We also managed to go to the Zoo a few times, and now that summer is here, I can't wait to get some splash pad action!

With some of our Little Gym peeps: Ezekiel, Vinny, & Emma

Mean muggers: Sofie, Lily, & Addi

"Look Ma, a giraffe!"

And of course, play dates galore.  This child is like the energizer bunny, I swear it.

BFF time with Lily! Finally got a pic where both are looking and happy.

Kids Club @ San Tan

Play date with our new friend, Emma.  They are a month a part.  Who is who on the top right??

"Baby Brain" class @ Basha Library

Climbing UP the slide, ay yi yi

Being silly together is what we do

"Little Gym" with these adorable "birds"

Some people ask me what I "do" when I stay home.  All of the above and then more.  Being cooped up at home with a very active toddler will make anyone go a little loco.  I absolutely love taking her to new places and meeting new friends. So blessed that I can do that with her at this age.  I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Here are some other randoms:

She likes when mama paints her toes; such a girly girl sometimes!

Matching toes!

"Daddy, can I drive the truck?"

Us every morning, going to our spot: Mountainside Fitness.

Watching *more* Frozen and eating yogurt.

So yeah, I think I've brought us up to speed on the last 4 months.  Rob and I have truly been immersed in our healthy lifestyle with prepping meals, more trips to Sprouts for fresh produce, and making time to exercise.  I'm happy to say that it's paid off for both of us.  This is something I have been passionate about and it has been humbling to "get back to" my pre-baby body.

I gotta be honest, I don't know how accurate that statement is.  Though I "lost" all the weight, it definitely didn't go back the same.  This isn't a bad thing, it just means that it was distributed differently and every person has a unique body/metabolism.  Anyway,  I want to share my progress finally.  Though I was a little unsure about sharing the "before" pic....I remember getting pumped up and motivated by seeing other moms (or anyone who made the decision to get healthy & fit) posting before/after pics.

No more tankini tan, please! Haha

For me, it was all about the journey.  It had it's ups & downs.  Sometimes I would think about how "unfair"  it was when I saw moms that looked like they have never given birth and sport a 2 piece bikini without giving it a thought, while playing with their newborn.  But, the truth is that every body is different. That skinny mini can't help that she has a thinner frame and fast metabolism, just like I can't help that I am 5'4 with a "booty". I got it from my mama ;)

  I accept my body for what it is and work with what it. Those last 7-10 lbs took me the longest to shed, man oh man.  For those of you asking what I have been doing, it actually comes down to incorporating weight training with high intensity cardio.  I find that it's what works best for me. I model my weight training after the Jaime Eason 12 week trainer.

I actually started the program last year, and only made through the end of Phase 2. I can probably tell you a few excuses on why I slowly fell off that band wagon, but it doesn't really matter.  I hopped back on the horse and I did what works for me and my schedule.  For cardio, I tend to do interval training on the treadmill (hate the treadmill). Jog at a good pace, 1 min sprints here and there.  Just enough to get my heart rate down and then back up.  The heart is the most important muscle you have, and you can train it just like you can train your triceps!  I love the Tabata class at my gym, but mostly do T25 or Turbo Fire at home to blitz through some cardio. Sometimes I will do some Power Yoga at the gym. And maybe one day I will take a spin class (idk why I am such a weenie with that)

Oh, and of course, healthy eating.  Rob and I loosely follow the "80/20" rule.  Eat clean 80% of the time, and not-so-healthy the other 20%.  This means a "cheat meal" here or there.  Indulging in dessert when the opportunity presents itself (ummm, Billy Miner Pie @ The Keg please!) and drinking a glass of red wine or a vodka press....or 2....  I think there is a misconception that we are super strict and don't enjoy food/drinks.  We have fun with the healthy foods we make and we switch things up when they get boring. Thank you "80/20 rule"!  Can you guess what our cheat meal is?  PIZZA

 

Anyway, I think that's a big enough bread crumb to drop on this journey.  Things we are looking forward to are:

1. Going to Rocky Point May 1-5 for much need R&R poolside/beachside

2. We are getting a pool! Should be done in 3 months with plenty of AZ Summer left

3. Easter, birthdays, Mother's Day, etc (hopefully I update before then?)

4. Livin' this blessed life

Ok that last one was cheesy.  But seriously, you only have one life; make it a happy, healthy one.

Until next time,

Lex

Halloweenie & Pics Galore!

How is it already November? Seriously though, this whole year has flown by and the holiday season has crept up on me.  I know I'm a week late, but here are the highlights of what we have been up to and of course, HALLOWEEN pics!

Sofie loves to run around outside!

Realizing grass isn't so bad after all ;)

We were introduced to a free baby dance class by our friends Samantha & Addi.  Though it's 30 minutes of organized chaos, I think it will be great for Sofie once she is a little older and can follow instructions better.  For now, I love watching her run around like crazy nut and stare at her reflection in the mirror.  Plus, mama gets to have some adult interaction with some fellow mamas.  Yay!

Dance class with Addi & Lily!

Now that we are past the triple digit/high 90's..we get to go outside more.  Sofie absolutely LOVES her 4 in 1 trike that Papa & Gambers bought her for her birfday.  Isn't it the coolest?  We use it to check the mail and go to the playground near our house.

Fall-la-la-la-la time is the best!

Ok, time for some Halloween pics!  I really wanted to dress Sofie like "Boo" from Monster's Inc, as a little monster.  Mostly because it was her very first "favorite movie" and she has similar features.  But alas, I am still a novice crafter....and I don't really know how to sew. I use my hot glue gun and thats about it.  So I finally made a compromise to at least try and make something.

I was at Baby Town one day, and found a super adorable owl knitted hat.  I decided to build her costume around this adorable hat. 

Went on pinterest and this is what I made.

I already had a white long sleeved onesie lying around, so I went to Hobby Lobby and spent a few dollars on some felt sheets.  I hand drew the "feathers" and pretty much hot glued it all together and TaDa!  I also bought some knit fabric to make a no-sew cape, but ran out of time and decided to call it a day.  End of the month makes me feel like a single mother sometimes...makes me grateful for a great hubby & daddy to our little love the other 3-ish weeks of the month. Thankfully my SIL Amanda came to babysit so I could treat myself to a mani-pedi.  Thanks Auntie M!  Anyway, I put her in her birfday tutu, colorful pants, and shoes she already owns.  Now I really feel like a frugal mama.  I don't think I spent more than $20 and I can re-use all of it (less the onesie)

We had a pretty great Halloween.  Went to Michelle's so Rob's side of the fam could see our cute little owl, Rob made it home in time to trick-or-treat with us in our new neighborhood, and had dinner with most of my family to celebrate my Dad's birfday. 

Cousins Karlie, Kayce, & Hunter.  We bribed Sofie with a croissant roll! haha

Happy Birthday Dad!

Since I wasn't sure how well my half-assed owl onesie would hold up, I had to make sure Miss Sofie was festive during the day with this getup.

Obsessed with the yellow pumpkins

Cutest little Jack-O-Lantern ever!

Tried to be creative with some of the decor I had.

We also went to our first "Kids Club" @ San Tan Mall.  So thankful for fellow mamas, like Samantha, that share all their fun ideas! Though it consisted of me running after Miss OTG (on the go) as she ran a mock run all over the place, I'm happy to know about another neat thing to do with her when she is older. 

Addi & Sofie @ October's Kids Club

Rob decided to take a few days off once the "end of the month" craziness was over.  He has been working his booty off, so I'm glad he did.  We initially wanted to go up north, which turned into maybe a day trip? which turned into another "no agenda" go with the flow weekend.  It was nice until both him & Sofie got sick.  I can honestly say that Rob doesn't turn into a big baby when he is sick (like most men *apparently* do)  So, I knew it was bad.  He got food poisoning from our brunch date to BLD. Yuck! Poor guy was in the fetal position for hours on end, and Sofie was also not feeling well from her tummy.  Needless to say, we were quarantined and I almost wanted to get myself a mask to ensure I escaped the sickness.  Thankfully, I think I'm in the clear and both of my sickies are on the mend. Back to the fun stuff; had a mini "date night" and enjoyed wine and burgers with some friends, did a little shopping at the Phoenix Outlets, went to Freestone park for a "Be Healthy Gilbert" festival, and of course, gave the new house some TLC and hung up play room shelves & decor.  Caught up on some movies & How I Met Your Mother (love that show!), and I guess pretty much vegged out. 

Cousin Karlie & Sofie hangin out at San Tan Mall

San Tan Mall outdoor play area fun!

Freestone Park!

My whole world

Daddy came to dance class with us

Little Miss Sickie

Both my sickies watching "Tangled"

So happy both my sickies are feeling better.  Rob probably should have taken another sick day, but that's near impossible when you are in sales.  He is pretty determined to earn his spot for the President's Club trip and make some major mula. He is a go-getter!  ;)

Playground fun

Still not sure about keeping sunglasses on, haha.

And just because I love damask and this black/white/red combo:

I'm sure I've mentioned this, but Little Miss is starting to get picky about what she eats/drinks.  She basically loves her milk aaaaand the "Mean Green" juice that I make for Rob & I. It's so funny!

 I have tried to give her orange or apple juice, alone or diluted, and she just drops her sippy cup and gives me a "you're-kidding-right?" look. She is a girl that knows what she wants.  Oh, and pedialyte was not an option either.  But, daddy's orange Gatorade was acceptable (for 1 day, haha)  It's just so funny to see her reaction to certain things, she is so dramatic! It makes me laugh (and throw my hands up).

Ok, back to the photo-explosion.  We also had a play date with Paulina and Baby E while they were in town.  Seriously, so cute!  Kinda made me baby crazy for a nano second, then I realized I can barely keep my life together with my little energizer bunny.

Sofia & Elijah!

"Hey ma, remember when I was small enough to play here?!"

PS It's time to child proof our cabinets, yikes!

Here is the last pic I shall leave you with.  What's sweeter than a sleeping baby? Can't think of anything, to be honest ;)  Look at those cheeks!

On a personal note, training at my new job is going well.  Can't wait to get my own groove so I can get back to my usual "Type-A OCD" routine.  What is wrong with me?! Hahaha


Much love!

Lex