WttMB

The Smile Project: Days 181-210

181. August 25: Ginuwine, “Pony.” My sister’s wedding, the Professor, the friends.

182. August 26: Smoothie for two, red peppers.

183. August 27: Fierce Medicine, unlocked port-o-potty, Lisa Mazzocco

184. August 28: Eddie George and a Fantasy Draft, dinner with Liz Berey. Lauren’s having a GIRL!

185. August 29: Lisa and the 5am crew at the track. Debra + Ambassadors, The Professor and First Chair. Jen & Mark, Laurie & Gerry.

186. August 30: Hillary Cavan, calcium and magnesium, sunset yoga

187. August 31: River North Bikram people, BFFriday at Prasino, Bridesmaids

188. September 1: 19 mile beast mode squad, a girl named Pepsi

189. September 2: Sunday.

190. September 3: Lisa, Fast & Fit, Danny’s peace sign

191. September 4: Debra’s blog, Jen’s wedding, The J’s: Cotton J, Dr. J, Hockey J.

192. September 5: Snooze button, bikram

193. September 6: Ada Street + Wilco + The Professor

194. September 7: City bike ride, Goose & Maverick, Gibson’s, a wedding band

195. September 8: Lakefront girl hugs

196. September 9: A half marathon PR, Dave, Lisa, Cotton J, Hockey J. Photos, instagram.

197. September 10: PR high, Yoga high, 2013 Chicago Half Registration email, Dave & Lisa, Frank Ocean and Channel Orange

198. September 11: #joblove

199. September 12: “I make the best Drunk Salad at the Salad Bar at Whole Foods”

200. September 13: Rain and a change of plans

201. September 14: Oatmeal, tomatoes & balsalmic, pig + publican + Professor

202. September 15: Will Smith sing-a-long, surprise engagement

203. September 16: neon on neon

204. September 17: 9 mile tempo, fall harvest crumble

205. September 18: Revolving door of visitors

206. September 19: midday cuddles and lunch with Becca

208. September 20: evolution of a Thursday

209. September 21: Kingdoms and Castles, Lauren & Katy, a baby

210. September 22: David Coligado- his friendship, support, selflessness and all around best friend-ishness.

Smiling EAR-to-EAR.

Anonymous asked: Non-running question! Since your tumblr is chock full of the stuff that fuels you (and that happens to include food, cooking, giggles, quotes, and snippets of inspiration), I could use a snippet of inspiration about food and cooking. Specifically with chia seeds. How do you use them and what do you add them to? Any advice or favorite (simple) recipes to use and incorporate them?

Oh my have I been behind on my blogging, but specifically my adventures in food! Don’t worry, it’s still a constant science experiment over here. Figuring what foods make me feel good and run fast. 

Chia seeds have definitely made a regular appearance on my menus and since I’ve been too busy (—> work, training, making sure my head doesn’t fall off) to stage some photos of what I have made, I will share links from some talented people who took care of that for me!

My favorites come from Oh She Glows, who I didn’t start following until earlier this year.  Talk about being late to the party. #imslow. It seems this girl has not only re-defined being vegan (which I am not) but she’s an incredible photographer and recipe-developer. I mean come on, who doesn’t want to make/eat this:

#smoothiebeast

The Vitamix love continues. And now, a follow-up to the last post: 

I’ve come up with a formula.  Here’s how to load the machine for optimum blending and taste results:

1. Choose a juicy, unfrozen fruit for the base adding at least one cup or more.

Green Grapes
Red Grapes
Any citrus fruit, peeled (oranges, tangerines, clementines, etc)
Kiwi
Watermelon
Cantelope
Honey Dew

2. SPINACH.

Load up. Previously I suggested no more than one cup.  I lied. I’ve been putting two cups or MORE and stuffing it in the blender.

3. Frozen Fruit - 1.5-2 cups or more. Read the ingredients on the label to make sure the fruit has no added sugar.

These are my favorites in no particular order:
Strawberries
Blueberries
Mangoes
Peaches
Cherries
Pineapple 

4. One Scoop of Trader Joe’s Super Greens Powder

5. Unsweetened almond milk, vanilla or original.  About 1/2 to 1/3 cup, just to help get the blender moving.

Here are some of my favorite combos lately using this exact method:

Red Grapes-Spinach-Strawberries
2 Oranges-Spinach-Blueberries
2 Oranges-Spinach-Mangoes
Green Grapes-Spinach-Peaches

Pictured above is Red Grapes-Spinach-Apple-Strawberries.

Not to be forgotten though, are two of my most prized recipes. Here they are again for re-cap:

Autumn Pumpkin Smoothie
1 c red grapes
1 large apple (I used honey crisp)
1/4-1/3 cup pumpkin
1 inch piece of ginger
1 cup (or more) frozen cherries
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or cinnamon)
1/2 cup raw cashews (can omit or substitute milled flax seed)
1/2 cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk 

Green Goddess
1 cup green grapes
1 cup spinach
1-2 bosc pears (depending on their size)
1/2 avocado
Juice from 1/4 lemon
1 inch piece of ginger
Unsweetened Original Almond Milk
1 cup ice 

 Alright there you have it. Vitamix Love Part II.